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Category Archives: Music, TV & Film

Strictly Come Dancing professionals are set to put a sparkle into the lives of members of the public by training them to strut their stuff for a new BBC series.

For the first time EVER the BBC team that brings you ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ is opening its dance floor to the public and they’re looking for inspiring everyday unsung heroes to go on this incredible journey. We would really like you to nominate your heroes or heroines for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – their very own televised Strictly experience for Comic Relief as part of the next Red Nose Day campaign!

We are looking for you to nominate inspirational people who genuinely change many other people’s lives – and of course, it is essential that they are Strictly super fans. The show is going to be a complete surprise to these individuals, so it is very important that they have no idea they are being nominated for the show. It should be an amazing chance to reward these amazing people, with an unforgettable experience that will be broadcast to the nation at a primetime slot on BBC One.

To nominate your hero, all you have to do is send an email to nominate@bbc.co.uk to receive an application form.

The cast of Downton Abbey has responded to the snickering, following the release of a publicity still that included a water bottle — an object not quite era appropriate for a period drama television series set in the early 20th century.

Each holding a water bottle, the show’s actors and actresses posed for a photo (above) in support of WaterAid, a non-profit organization based in the United Kingdom that seeks to provide clean water, hygiene education and safe toilets worldwide.

“It brought a really big smile to my face when the cast of Downton Abbey said that they wanted to support WaterAid’s work. How fantastic that the attention created over one water bottle ends up benefiting some of the world’s poorest communities through access to safe, clean water today,” WaterAid chief executive Barbara Frost said on the organization’s website.

There’s something not quite right about this new Downton Abbey picture.

The show is set to return to our screens later this year with its fifth series, set in 1924. ITV have revealed some promotional snaps featuring characters from the drama, including this one of Robert Crawley and Lady Edith.

Everything seems very 20s on first glance…but hang on, what’s that on the mantelpiece?

Someone has left a plastic bottle in between the vases on the right-hand side.

Plastic was not created until the mid-20th century because making the material was so expensive, so there’s little chance the Crawleys would have been able to get their hands on any. Still, this doesn’t lessen my excitement at Downton Abbey coming back.

Moving On is the latest stop-motion video from BAFTA-nominated animator, writer, and director Ainslie Henderson. The clip was created as a music video for British rock band James and tells a story of life and death through characters depicted with yellow yarn. Sad, but wonderfully done:

Harjap Singh, chairman of Sikh Council Hampshire and Southampton Gurdwara Council, said the organisations have raised concerns over the programme. He said:

“We are against it because it would be pretty bad for community relations. The Vaisakhi celebrations looks to bring communities together but it seems the programme makers could put certain sections of the community against each other. A few people I have spoken to have raised concerns and have asked to make sure this doesn’t happen.”

David Bane, secretary of the Southampton Council of Faiths, said the organisation was “cautious”:

“The council of faiths had a meeting last Tuesday and there’s mixed feeling about it. We don’t have control over what the programme comes out like. The Southampton Council of Faiths is nearly 19 years old and we have worked very hard to link communities and keep the trust and peace. Southampton has a history of immigration. We have had people come to this city for years and I think in a way majority of people see it as a real added value to the community – we have around 47 languages spoken here. We need to be careful.”

However Khalid Farooq, of the Derby Road-based Pakistan Welfare Association said it was an opportunity to show how multi-cultural Derby Road is. He said:

“I think it’s good. It shows the multi-cultural environment of people living in Derby Road. They should show a positive aspect of the community. I think there needs to be more support and show how hard working people are here.”

Cllr Stephen Barnes-Andrew, deputy leader of Southampton City Council and cabinet member for resources, represents the Bevois ward. He said:

“It is difficult because your whole experience of the programme is sensationalised from James Turner Street in Birmingham and it turned out the whole programme was stage managed. They have had meetings with council officers on one occasion and said they will try to do a balanced programme. My view is that on balance looking at previous production it will not be in the interests of people in Southampton as I fear they will be turning to portray a certain angle on the downside of immigration.”

Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead, who represents the area, has spoken of his concern. He said he was worried that the programme would follow a script rather than tell the truth and reflect the community accurately. He said:

“Some programmes can be a tremendous fillip and bonus in getting across to the public what the real issues are. I don’t think the company in this instance has a track record to do that.”

A little girl named Lara practices to become the musical director of this church choir in Kyrgyzstan someday. From her careful movements and her passion for the music, it probably won’t be as long as you might think!

It’s here! We’ve finally reached the day that Marty McFly traveled forward in time to in the movie Back to the Future Part II. Now where’s my hoverboard?

Actually, every day is Back to the Future Day with this handy generator. You can save today’s date, or program any date from January 2012 to December 2015 into it and get a photo. That could be fun for, say, party invitations. And any time you go to the generator site, Back to the Future Day will always be today. Now you know how people confusing their friends about the date do it. The date in the movie is really October 21, 2015.

Three very familiar faces are featured in UNICEF Sweden’s new ad campaign that encourages viewers to purchase life-saving medical supplies for children in need this Christmas.

Obviously, “The Good Guys” campaign is a bit irreverent, but for advertisements that show three revered religious figures—including Jesus Christ — in a humorous light, the series is actually pretty good-natured.

End your weekend the right way, with this video of what’s possibly the world’s classiest flash mob. Members of the United States Air Force Band wore disguises to the National Air and Space Museum, and then with no announcement, slowly began coming out of the crowd to perform a collection of Christmas classics, culminating with an epic rendition of “Joy to the World”:

It might not actually be able to travel through time and spave, but to have a TARDIS that can at least take off into the air on its own is still one step closer to having our favorite blue spaceship become a reality.

Of course, the next step is to develop one that’s not made from styrofoam and that can actually land without crashing so we can actually ride it in while it’s flying. While we’d all like to get to fly through new galaxies and forward and backwards into time, we have to go one step at a time and getting to fly across London in a TARDIS is certainly a step toward the future.